So another former lawmaker goes to work in the Schweitzer administration - makes you wonder how independent our legislature is from the executive branch.  We found these statements by the Gov interesting:

"It's a question of trust.  The people of Montana deserve to know who their public officials are working for in Helena. Legislators and state officials must be held accountable." - Brian Schweitzer quoted in the Billings Gazette, 7/15/04 regarding ethics legislation he proposed during his 2004 campaign for governor that would have prohibited former elected officials from becoming private-sector lobbyists.

"What this one will do, it will absolutely pour cement in the revolving door."  Brian Schweitzer quoted in the Billings Gazette, 2/14/06, regarding a ballot measure to restrict legislators from becoming private-sector lobbyists.

While becoming a lobbyist and going to work for the administration are not exactly the same thing, the underlying principle of the law/initiative that Schweitzer wanted to pass when he made those statements applies to both situations: the promise of personal gain through employment can corrupt a legislator's judgement, or at the very least lead to the appearance of corruption.  And after observing how the Schweitzer administration operates, it's not hard to imagine that any of the several lawmakers who have gone on to work for the administration would not be in their present posts had they crossed BS during thier legislative days - which is a lesson that other Democrat legislators are sure to take note of.

Legislative Democrats have already been exposed by a vote-trading scandal during the Schweitzer administration, so it wouldn't take too much of a stretch to imagine that a little quid quo pro could potentially take place between votes and employment promises.  Keeping your governor happy is one thing; compromising your integrity is quite another.